JP5377229B2 - Character input device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device and an image forming apparatus.

  As a method of inputting Chinese using a keyboard, there is a method called pinyin input. This pinyin input is a method of inputting Chinese characters by inputting consonants and vowels expressed in alphabet. However, since the consonants and vowels of Chinese characters are not necessarily composed of one alphabet like Japanese kana characters, many alphabets (up to 6 characters) can be used for pinyin input. ) Had to be entered. Therefore, as a method of solving the above problem, there is a method of dual pin input that switches between consonants and vowels assigned to each key of the keyboard when a shift key is pressed. However, this method is very troublesome because the shift key must be pressed when inputting consonants or vowels. Therefore, as an invention for solving this problem, a Chinese input device has been proposed that assigns a vowel to each key of a keyboard when a consonant is input, and assigns a consonant to each key when a vowel is input.

JP-A-2-126362

  By the way, in the above-mentioned patent document 1, when a consonant is input, a vowel is assigned to each key of the keyboard, and when a vowel is input, a consonant is assigned to each key, so that the consonant and the vowel are not pressed even if the shift key is pressed. Can be entered. However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is a key to which a plurality of vowels are assigned. Therefore, when the key is pressed, it is necessary to execute a process of determining a vowel according to the immediately preceding consonant. . As a result, internal processing becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to allow Chinese characters to be input with simpler internal processing than before.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first solution means for a character input device, there is provided a character input device having an operation means having a keyboard and receiving Chinese input in pinyin. When a consonant is input, the operation mode of the keyboard is switched to a vowel mode in which one pinyin vowel is assigned to one button of the keyboard. When a pinyin vowel is input, one button of the keyboard Further, there is adopted means for providing Chinese input control means for switching the operation mode of the keyboard to a consonant mode to which one Pinyin consonant is assigned.

  In the present invention, as the second solving means relating to the character input device, in the first solving means, the display means is provided, and the Chinese input control means is inputted when the operation means receives the conversion instruction. The display unit displays kanji conversion candidates corresponding to the combination of characters (consonants and vowels), and converts the input characters into the selected kanji.

  In the present invention, as a third solving means relating to the character input device, in the second solving means, the Chinese input control means sets the operation mode of the keyboard to the consonant mode when the kanji to be converted is determined. Adopt means.

  In the present invention, as the fourth solving means related to the character input device, in the second or third solving means, the Chinese input control means displays the conversion candidate of the Chinese character on the display means. When the operation means accepts the conversion stop instruction, a means is adopted in which the operation mode of the keyboard is returned to the mode immediately before the kanji conversion candidate is displayed.

  In the present invention, as a fifth solving means relating to the character input device, in any one of the first to fourth solving means, the Chinese input control means includes a button for accepting numeric input on the consonant mode keyboard. When a number is input by assigning and pressing the button, a method is adopted in which the operation mode of the keyboard remains in the consonant mode.

  In the present invention, as a sixth solving means relating to the character input device, in any of the first to fifth solving means, the Chinese input control means is configured to input an unconfirmed character (consonant and vowel). When all of these are deleted, the keyboard is set to the consonant mode.

  In the present invention, as a seventh solving means relating to the character input device, in any one of the first to sixth solving means, the operation means and the display means are both provided, and the keyboard is displayed as a software keyboard. A means of providing a display means is adopted.

  Further, in the present invention, as a solution means related to the image forming apparatus, a character input device that employs any one of the above solution methods 1 to 7 is provided, and a character is input by the character input device. To do.

  According to the present invention, when a pinyin consonant is input, the keyboard is switched to a vowel mode in which one pinyin vowel is assigned to one button, and when a pinyin vowel is input, one is assigned to one button. The keyboard switches to the consonant mode to which the Pinyin consonants are assigned. Thus, in the present invention, one pinyin consonant is assigned to one button in the consonant mode, and one pinyin consonant is assigned to one button in the vowel mode. Therefore, the present invention does not require a process of determining an input target vowel that is executed when the button is pressed, as compared to a case where a plurality of vowels are assigned to one button. Internal processing is simplified.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a top view of the operation display unit 1 of the multifunction machine A according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the software keyboard (a) of the consonant mode and the software keyboard (b) of the vowel mode of the multi-function device A according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the multifunction peripheral A according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the screen transition at the time of a character being input in the multifunctional machine A which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) A according to the present embodiment has a copy function, a print function, a scan function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and an e-mail transmission function. The multi-function device A is a Chinese-compatible device, and for example, the subject and body of an e-mail can be created in Chinese. As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function device A includes an operation display unit 1, an image reading unit 2, an image data storage unit 3, an image processing unit 4, a paper transport / image forming unit 5, a communication unit 6, and a main control unit. 7 is provided.

  The operation display unit 1 includes an operation key 11, a touch panel 12, and an operation display control unit 13, and functions as a man-machine interface that relates the user and the multifunction device A. The user operates the operation display unit 1 to cause the multifunction peripheral A to execute a user-desired operation. The operation display unit 1 will be described in detail later.

  The image reading unit 2 is a document automatically fed by an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) or an image of a document placed on a platen glass (document image) based on a control command input from a main control unit 7 described later. Is read by the line sensor and converted into document image data, and the document image data is output to the image data storage unit 3.

  The image data storage unit 3 is a semiconductor memory, a hard disk device, or the like, and receives document image data, print image data, and facsimile image data (received by the communication unit 6 from the outside) based on a control command input from the main control unit 7. The image data is stored and read out and output to the image processing unit 4.

  The image processing unit 4 performs various types of image processing (for example, image processing corresponding to enlargement / reduction copying) on the image data input from the image data storage unit 3 based on a control command input from the main control unit 7 described later. ), And the image data is converted into image data in an image forming format and output to the paper transport / image forming unit 5. When the image reading unit 2 reads a color original, the image data input from the image data storage unit 3 to the image processing unit 4 is RGB image data (color image data) corresponding to the three primary colors of light. Reference numeral 4 denotes image data corresponding to the image forming format using such RGB image data, for example, YMCK image data, that is, an image using Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) as reference colors. The data is converted and output to the paper transport / image forming unit 5.

  The paper transport / image forming unit 5 transports recording paper in a paper tray (not shown) based on a control command input from the main control unit 7, and image data in the image forming format input from the image processing unit 4. Based on the above, an image (image made of toner) is formed on a recording sheet, and the recording sheet is conveyed to a discharge tray (not shown). The sheet conveying / image forming unit 5 is formed by arranging, for example, four developing devices corresponding to the reference color toner on the secondary transfer belt, and forms an image based on a tandem system.

  The communication unit 6 communicates with an external multifunction device, a facsimile machine, a client computer, or the like using a LAN (Local Area Network) or a telephone line under the control of the main control unit 7. That is, the communication unit 6 has both a communication function compliant with a LAN standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark) and a communication function compliant with a facsimile standard such as G3. The communication unit 6 can send and receive e-mails, for example.

  The main control unit 7 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a main body internal memory, the operation display unit 1, an image reading unit 2, an image data storage unit 3, an image processing unit 4, a paper transport / image forming unit 5, and a communication unit 6. And an interface circuit for transmitting and receiving various signals. The main control unit 7 controls the overall operation of the multifunction peripheral A based on a control program stored in advance in the main body internal memory and an operation instruction input from the operation display unit 1. The main control unit 7 transmits and receives various signals in a predetermined communication format with the operation display control unit 13 of the operation display unit 1, thereby grasping and controlling the operation state of the operation display unit 1.

Next, the operation display unit 1 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation display unit 1 includes an operation key 11, a touch panel 12, and an operation display control unit 13 (see FIG. 1). The operation display control unit 13 is a Chinese input control unit in the present embodiment. The touch panel 12 is an operation display unit in the present embodiment that has both an operation unit and a display unit.

  The operation key 11 is physically provided in the operation display unit 1 as a hardware key. The operation keys 11 include, for example, a power key, a start key, a clear key for canceling operation contents, and a numeric keypad for inputting instructions regarding numbers. When the operation key 11 is pressed by the user, the operation key 11 outputs an operation signal corresponding to each operation key to the operation display control unit 13.

  As is well known, the touch panel 12 is provided with a transparent surface pressure sensor such as a resistive film type on the display surface of the display panel, and the user designates an operation button displayed on the display panel by the operation display control unit 13. When the pressure is pressed, the planar pressure sensor outputs an operation signal indicating the pressed position (pressed coordinate) to the operation display control unit 13.

The operation display control unit 13 is a control device that controls the operation keys 11 and the touch panel 12 under the control of the main control unit 7, and includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), an internal memory, the operation keys 11, the touch panel 12, and the main touch panel 12. An interface circuit that exchanges various signals with the control unit 7 is provided.
The operation display control unit 13 displays operation buttons and various screens on the touch panel 12 based on an operation display control program stored in the internal memory under a control command input from the main control unit 7. Then, the operation display control unit 13 determines which operation button or operation key 11 is operated based on an operation signal input from the operation key 11 or the touch panel 12, and issues an operation instruction based on the determination result to the main control unit. 7 is output.

  Then, the operation display control unit 13 displays a software keyboard on the touch panel 12 as various screens. The software keyboard is used when inputting characters in the same manner as a general keyboard, and is displayed when an e-mail is created. Since the multifunction device A is a Chinese-compatible device, the software keyboard has a function corresponding to Chinese.

  Specifically, the software keyboard has two types of operation modes for receiving Chinese input by Pinyin. That is, the software keyboard has a consonant mode in which one Pinyin consonant is assigned to one character input button as shown in FIG. 3 (a), and one character as shown in FIG. 3 (b). There is a vowel mode in which one Pinyin vowel is assigned to the input button.

  Hereinafter, a character input button to which a consonant is assigned is referred to as a consonant button, and a character input button to which a vowel is assigned is referred to as a vowel button. In the consonant mode software keyboard, a numeric input button for accepting numeric input and a symbol input button for accepting symbol input are assigned as a character input button together with a consonant button.

  In the software keyboard, characters input by pressing a character input button are displayed in the input character display area. In addition, the software keyboard can input various characters such as hiragana, katakana, kanji, alphabets and symbols in addition to Chinese by switching the character input mode.

  Further, the software keyboard displays an “uppercase” mode button and a “lowercase” mode button for selecting whether to input uppercase letters or lowercase letters. When the “uppercase” mode button is pressed, the character type mode is changed to the “uppercase” mode, and the input alphabet is displayed in uppercase in the input character display area. When the “lowercase” mode button is pressed, the character type mode is changed to the “lowercase” mode, and the input alphabet is displayed in lowercase in the input character display area. The dot pattern “lowercase” mode button in FIG. 3 indicates that the character type mode is the lowercase mode.

 The software keyboard also displays a “backspace” button for deleting the character on the left side of the cursor in the input character display area and a “conversion” button for converting the input character.

Next, the operation of the MFP A according to this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
First, a user who wants to create a Chinese e-mail using the multi-function device A operates the operation display unit 1 to display an e-mail creation screen on the touch panel 9 and starts text input.
When the operation display control unit 13 receives the operation signal for starting the text input, the operation display control unit 13 displays the consonant mode software keyboard shown in FIG. 3A on the touch panel 12 (step S1).

  The operation display control unit 13 determines whether or not the consonant button is pressed after step S1 (step S2). If it is determined “NO” in step S2, that is, if the consonant button is not pressed, the operation display control unit 13 waits until the consonant button is pressed. When it is determined “YES” in step S2, that is, when a consonant is input by pressing the consonant button, the operation display control unit 13 displays a consonant corresponding to the pressed consonant button in the input display area. (Step S3). After step S3, the operation display control unit 13 causes the touch panel 12 to display a vowel mode software keyboard shown in FIG. 3B (step S4).

  The operation display control unit 13 determines whether or not the vowel button has been pressed after step S4 (step S5). If it is determined “NO” in step S5, that is, if the vowel button is not pressed, the operation display control unit 13 waits until the vowel button is pressed. If it is determined “YES” in step S5, that is, if a vowel is input by pressing the vowel button, the operation display control unit 13 displays a vowel corresponding to the pressed vowel button in the input display area. (Step S6). After step S6, the operation display control unit 13 displays the consonant mode software keyboard shown in FIG. 3A on the touch panel 12 (step S7).

The operation of steps S1 to S7 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
When the input of the text of the e-mail is started, a software keyboard in the consonant mode shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the touch panel 12 in step S1. Next, when the “zh” input button on the software keyboard is pressed in step S2, “zh” is displayed in the input character display area in step S3 as shown in FIG. 5B, and the software is displayed in step S4. The keyboard switches to vowel mode.

Next, when the “ong” input button on the software keyboard is pressed in step S5, “ong” is displayed in the input character display area in step S6 as shown in FIG. 5C, and the software is displayed in step S7. The keyboard switches to consonant mode.
When the “g” input button on the software keyboard is pressed again in step S2, “g” is displayed in the input character display area in step S3 as shown in FIG. 5D, and in step S4. The software keyboard switches to vowel mode.
When the “uo” input button on the software keyboard is pressed in step S5, “uo” is displayed in the input character display area in step S6 as shown in FIG. 5E, and the software is displayed in step S7. The keyboard switches to consonant mode.

  Returning to FIG. 4, when the “conversion” button is pressed after step S <b> 7, the operation display control unit 13 displays kanji conversion candidates on the touch panel 12 (step S <b> 8). When the kanji to be converted is determined after step S8, the operation display controller 13 displays the kanji in the input character display area and switches the software keyboard to the consonant mode (step S9).

  For example, when the touch panel 12 displays the screen shown in FIG. 5D, if the “conversion” key is pressed in step S8, a conversion candidate for the Chinese character “zhong” is displayed. When the kanji to be converted is determined, only the “zhong” kanji is displayed in the input display area, and “g” after “zhong” is deleted. In step S9, the software keyboard is switched to the consonant mode.

  In addition, when the touch panel 12 receives a conversion stop instruction while the “zhong” kanji conversion candidate is displayed, the operation display control unit 13 closes the screen on which the kanji conversion candidate is displayed, and FIG. The vowel mode keyboard of (d) is displayed on the touch panel 12 again, that is, the screen before the conversion candidate is displayed is returned. Therefore, when the consonant mode software keyboard is displayed immediately before the conversion candidate is displayed, the consonant mode software keyboard is displayed after the screen on which the kanji conversion candidate is displayed is closed.

The operation display control unit 13 sets the operation mode of the software keyboard to the consonant even when a number is input by pressing the number input button of the software keyboard in the consonant mode or when a symbol is input by pressing the symbol input button. Leave in mode.
Further, when all unconfirmed consonants and vowels (for example, “zhongg” in FIG. 5D) are deleted by pressing the “backspace” button on the software keyboard, the operation display control unit 13 starts from the vowel mode. Return to the consonant mode software keyboard.

  As described above, in the MFP A according to the present embodiment, when a pinyin consonant is input, the software keyboard is switched to a vowel mode in which one pinyin vowel is assigned to one button, and the pinyin vowel is displayed. When input, the software keyboard is switched to a consonant mode in which one pinyin consonant is assigned to one button. Thus, in the multi-function device A, one Pinyin consonant is assigned to one button in the consonant mode, and one Pinyin consonant is assigned to one button in the vowel mode. Therefore, the multi-function device A does not require a process of determining an input target vowel that is executed when the button is pressed, as compared to a case where a plurality of vowels are assigned to one button. , Internal processing is simplified.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the multifunction peripheral A that is one of the image forming apparatuses. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the character input device according to the present invention can be applied to any device having a mechanism for inputting Chinese, such as a personal computer and a portable terminal.

  A ... MFP, 1 ... operation display unit, 2 ... image reading unit, 3 ... image data storage unit, 4 ... image processing unit, 5 ... paper transport / image forming unit, 6 ... communication unit, 7 ... main control unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Operation key, 12 ... Touch panel, 13 ... Operation display control part

Claims (6)

A character input device having an operation display means for displaying a software keyboard and receiving Chinese input in pinyin,
The software keyboard in the consonant mode in which one pinyin consonant is assigned to one button is displayed, and when the pinyin consonant is input, the software keyboard in the consonant mode is displayed in one pinyin per button. The vowel mode is assigned to the software keyboard in the vowel mode, and when the Pinyin vowel is input, the software keyboard in the vowel mode is switched to the software keyboard in the consonant mode and displayed .
Until the operation display unit accepts a conversion instruction, the switching of the software keyboard between the consonant mode and the vowel mode is repeated,
When the operation display means accepts a conversion instruction, kanji conversion candidates corresponding to a combination of input characters (consonants and vowels) are displayed on the operation display means, and the input characters are converted into the selected kanji. A character input device comprising Chinese input control means. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the Chinese input control unit switches the software keyboard in the vowel mode to the software keyboard in the consonant mode when a Chinese character to be converted is determined . When the Chinese input control means is displaying the kanji conversion candidates on the operation display means and the operation display means accepts a conversion stop instruction, the software keyboard immediately before the kanji conversion candidates are displayed. The character input device according to claim 1 , wherein the character input device is returned to the one described above. The Chinese input control means assigns a button for accepting numerical input to the software keyboard in the consonant mode, and displays the software keyboard in the consonant mode as it is when a number is input by pressing the button. The character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The said Chinese input control means displays the said software keyboard of the said consonant mode, when all the input unconfirmed characters (consonant and vowel) are erase | eliminated . The character input device described in 1. An image forming apparatus comprising the character input device according to claim 1, wherein characters are input by the character input device.

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